stone



Sept. 24, 1963 R. K. STONE 3,104,798

BAG CLOSURE Filed Nov. 6. 1961 F/G. FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

RALYH K. s'voN E BY g a:

Hfs AGENT Y grams Patented Sept. Z4, 1963 v 3,104,798 BAG CLOSURE Ralph K. Stone, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed Nov. 6, 1961, ser. No. 150,295 3 Claims. (ci. 229-62) This invention relates generally to flexible wall bags of the type used for packaging relatively small quantities of goods or materials-particularly edibles or perishable inlaterial. More specifically, this invention relates to bags made of paper, =glassine, cellophane, polyethylene, or similar material, having means for simple and positive reclosure after it has once -been opened.

The present invention provides a bag which, when lled, is 'adapted to be permanently closed at one end, and is provided with a closure at the other end having means for easily openin-g Ithe bag along 'a predetermined rupture line, and in addition, means for easily reclosing the ibag along its original closure.

This invention also provides a bag of simple `and inexpensive construction. The construction of the bag and its closure is sufiicient to prevent leakage of its contents and circulation of yair.

'Ihe present invention has particular application in the packaging of relatively small quantities of materials such as macaroni, coffee, cereal, etc. Quite frequently, suoh materials are packaged in quantities which do not suit the individual needs of a particular consumer, and the consumer may desire to use only a portion of the bags contents. In such situations, it is desirable to be able to reclose the bag to prevent leaking of the contents and air circulation in the bag.

According to this invention, a closure is provided at the end of a Ibag by spreading and flattening the walls o-f the bag so that the bags walls in the :area o-f the desired closure are in substantially parallel planes. The walls are then connected in the area of the `desired closure by adlhesively interposing 4a laminated strip, a layer of which is .an easily rupturable material such as blotter paper or the like, for easily separating the walls at the closure, and a layer of non-resilient, bendable, shape holding material such as metal foil, for easily reclosing the bag.

After the bag has once lbeen opened by pulling the biag walls .apart at the closure, thereby splitting the layer of easily rupturable material, the bag can easily lbe reclosed by returning the closure to its original position and folding over the ends of the closure. The layer of metal foil, which is preferably of a material such as aluminum, lead, or copper now retains the bag tightly in a closed position.

The present invention is most unique in the simplicity of construction of the reclosable bag, and the cooperation of the tight, but easy opening feature with the easy closing feature. Without the provision of means for opening the bag along a predetermined line without tearing, ripping, mutilation, etc. in the area `of the closure, the provision for easy closing would be of little value for the contemplated uses. It is desirable for the bag to have means for tight closure both before and after the iirst opening. A tight reclosure of rthe bag is only made possible by the provision for neat opening.

It is well realized that bendable metal closures, per se, for certain typ-es of bags |and containers `are not new, but it is believed that bags adaptable for edibles Iand perishable materials have not heretofore been provided with such la simple and substantially air-tight closure which adequately protects the contents both before and after the original opening.

In' the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is 'a partial plan view of a tubular bag hav- 2 Y ing a iishtail type seam at the vend thereof embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE `3 is |a partial plan View of the Vforrnof bag shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 showing the bag in a reclosed position.

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view of a bag having another -forrn of closure at the end thereof embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is'an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5'-5 of FIGURE 4.

, FIGURE 6 is a partial plan view of the bag shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 partially opened.

Referring to FIGURES 1 Iand 2, 10 `denotes generally the closure at the end of a bag.y Closure 10 is generally known as a fishtail type end closure. The bag is of the exible wall, tubular type. The walls 12 and 14 are of substantially the same longitudinal extent. At the end of the container, or slightly spaced therefrom, closure 10 is placed connecting the iiattened adjacent bag walls 12 and 14. Closure 10 is conveniently spaced a sli-ght distance from the ends of the Walls 12 and 14, allowing the extremities 16 `and 18 of the walls 12 and'14 respectively, to be free to provide lips for separating the walls at this closure.

At closure 10, a laminated strip is placed between and adhesively connected to the inside surfaces of the walls 12 'and 14. The laminated strip is joined to the bag Walls 12 and 14 by a suitable adhesive indicated at 20. The Vstrip of laminated material comprises la strip of metallic foil 22 laminated to a strip of relatively easilyrrupturable material 24. The strip of easily rupturable material 24 may be a loose fibrous material such as blotter paper. It is necessary'that this strip of loose, fibrous material be more easily rupturable than any other component of the closure so that when the container walls 12 and 14 are separated, the closure Will split through the layer of loose libered material 24. It may sometimes be desirable to lface the layer of loose fibrous material with a layer of paper 26 of ordinary texture or low adhesive absorptivity to avoid undue absorption of -glue in the loose librous material. However, this is not [a necessary part of the invention.

It is usually desirable that the laminated ystrip extend for the full length of the closure. However, this may not Valways be necessary in this ishtail closure. It is possible for the strip to be contained entirely within a portion of the closure, and the remaining portion of the closure may be then joined in any known manner.

The bag is opened by simply pulling the bag walls 12 and 14 apart, splitting the strip of easily rupturable material 24. FIGURE 3 illustrates the container shown in FIGURES l and 2 after it has been reclosed. To reclose, the bag walls 12 .and 14 are simply flattened along closure 10 and the corners of the closure are bent and doubled back over the intermediate portions thereof. The closure is now held in a closed position by the shape-holding ability of the metallic foil layer 22 of the closure strip. It can now readily be seen that the reclosing feature of this invention would not be practical Without a provision for opening the sea-m by separating the walls of the bag neatly and Without mutilation.

Another embodiment of the invent-ion is shown in FIG- URES 4, 5, and 6. In this Aform of the invention, one of the -bag walls is provided with a ap extension to be folded over the opposite wall portion of the container wall. The laminated strip is now placed between the folded liap and the adjacent bag wall.

More speciiically, as best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, wall 14'- is provided with aflap 28 which extends beyond the extremity of wall 1'2. To provide a substantially air tight closure, the closure fold is made at a position to include the extreme portion of wall l2. The closure is spaced Vslightly from the extremity of ap 28 to provide a lip for separating the walls of the bag.

ln this embodiment of the invention, the laminated strip at closure l connects the Wall 12 and the ap 28. The -laminated strip is adhesively connected 'between these walls by adhesive layers The strip comprises a layer of metal foil 22 laminated to the strip` of brous material V241. The strip of brous material 24' may be backed With a paper strip 26' or ordinaryrtexture to prevent undue absorption of the glue.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the-seam partially opened. This illustrates how the closure is neatly opened without tearing or ripping of the bag Wall material, by the splitting of the strip of loose brous material 24. Part of the interposed closure strip is retained on the flap portion 2S and part is retained on the bag wall 12'.

Opening and reclosure of the bag illustrated in FIG- URES 4, 5, and 6 is accomplished basically in the same manner as for the shtail closure illustrated in FIG- URES l, 2, and 3. Lip 32 of fiap 28 may be lifted away from wall 12', splitting the strip of easily rupturable material 24. For reclosing, the end of the bag is simply flattened and ltlap 28 ybrought back to its original position. The corners of the closure are next folded over in the same manner as before, and the closure is held in a closed position by the shape holdin-g ability of the metallic foil layer 22 of the laminated strip.

It should be understood that the other end of the bag may be permanently closed by any known means. Normally, such bags Will be filled from the end opposite the closure forming this invention, thus enabling this closure to be made at the time the bag is manufactured.

I claim:

1. In a bag having flexible walls flattened at one end thereof and a mouth closure at said attened end defined by the overlaying portions of the walls, the improvement which comprises a single strip of laminated material adhesively interposed between and connecting said overlaying wall portions along substantially the entirewidth of the bag at said cloSu-re by a substantially air tight closure, said strip of laminated material having (a) la layer of easily rupturable material,

(b) a layer of bendable,` metal foil,

' 4 v l (c) whereby said bag may be opened by separating the bags walls at said closure, thereby splitting said layer f `of easily rupturable material, and reclosed along its original closure by attening the bags walls to their original position and bending over the ends ot'said closure. Y K Y 2. In a bag having substantially 4iattened and coextensive iiexible walls yat one end thereof, and a mouth closure at said end defined by overlaying portions of the walls, the improvement which comprises a single strip of laminated material adhesively interposed between and connecting said overlaying wall portions along substantially the Y entire width of the bag at said closure by a substantially air tight closure, said strip of laminated material having (a) a layer of easily rupturable material,

(b) a layer of bendable, metal foil, (c) whereby said bag maybe opened by separatingA the bags walls at said closure, thereby splitting said layer of easily rupturable material, and reclosed along its original closure by flattening the bags walls to their original position and -bending over the ends of said closure. 3. In a bag having flexible walls flattened at one end thereof, one of said walls being'ot greater extent than the other and folded over at the edge of said other wall to their original position and'bending over the ends of said closure.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 218,650 Weaver Aug. 19, 1ste 3,001,689 Burton Sept. 26, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 205,189 switzerland Aug. 16, 1939 

1. IN A BAG HAVING FLEXIBLE WALLS FLATTENED AT ONE END THEREOF AND A MOUTH CLOSURE AT SAID FLATTENED END DEFINED BY THE OVERLAYING PORTIONS OF THE WALLS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A SINGLE STRIP OF LAMINATED MATERIAL ADHESIVELY INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND CONNECTING SAID OVERLAYING WALL PORTIONS ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE BAG AT SAID CLOSURE BY A SUBSTANTIALLY AIR TIGHT CLOSURE, SAID STRIP OF LAMINATED MATERIAL HAVING (A) A LAYER OF EASILY RUPTURABLE MATERIAL, (B) A LAYER OF BENDABLE, METAL FOIL, (C) WHEREBY SAID BAG MAY BE OPENED BY SEPARATING THE BAG''S WALLS AT SAID CLOSURE, THEREBY SPLITTING SAID LAYER OF EASILY RUPTURABLE MATERIAL, AND RECLOSED ALONG ITS ORIGINAL CLOSURE BY FLATTENING THE BAG''S WALLS TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION AND BENDING OVER THE ENDS OF SAID CLOSURE. 